Endotracheal Tube Having Improved Suction Lumen

Abstract

A surgical/medical tube such as an endotracheal tube ( 10 ) is provided having a tubular body ( 12 ) equipped with an inflatable cuff ( 22 ) and respective, separate cuff inflation and fluid removal lumens ( 24, 30 ). A fluid removal opening ( 32 ) communicates with lumen ( 30 ) and is located proximal to cuff ( 22 ). A projection ( 38, 38 a, 40, or 42 ) is located in close proximity to the opening ( 32 ) and is configured to prevent contact between the opening ( 32 ) and the adjacent tracheal wall.

1 .- 10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . A medical tube comprising: 
 a body comprising an elongated gas-conveying tube;    a sealing cuff mounted on the body, wherein the sealing cuff is configured to seal against the wall of a body cavity;    a suction lumen extending along the body, wherein the suction lumen terminates in a suction opening adjacent the sealing cuff, and wherein the suction lumen and suction opening are configured to permit suction to remove substances from the body cavity; and    a projection on the exterior of the body, wherein the projection is located proximate to the suction opening, and wherein the projection is configured to prevent occlusion of the suction opening.    
     
     
         12 . The tube of  claim 11 , wherein the tube comprises an endotracheal tube.  
     
     
         13 . The tube of  claim 11 , wherein the projection is mounted on the exterior of the body.  
     
     
         14 . The tube of  claim 11 , wherein the projection comprises an elongated element, wherein a longitudinal axis of the projection is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the body.  
     
     
         15 . The tube of  claim 11 , wherein the projection comprises a ring, and wherein the ring extends at least partially around the circumference of the exterior of the body.  
     
     
         16 . The tube of  claim 11 , wherein the opening is located between the sealing cuff and the projection.  
     
     
         17 . The tube of  claim 11 , wherein the projection is located between sealing cuff and the suction opening.  
     
     
         18 . The tube of  claim 11 , wherein the projection has a height of from approximately 0.030 to 0.080 inches from the exterior of the body.  
     
     
         19 . The tube of  claim 11 , wherein the projection comprises a secondary cuff.  
     
     
         20 . The tube of  claim 19 , wherein the suction opening is located between the sealing cuff and the secondary cuff.  
     
     
         21 . The tube of  claim 19 , wherein the secondary cuff extends around the entirety of the circumference of the body.  
     
     
         22 . The tube of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing cuff comprises an inflatable sealing cuff.  
     
     
         23 . The tube of  claim 11 , wherein the projection comprises tubing wrapped around the circumference of the body.  
     
     
         24 . A method of manufacturing a medical tube comprising: 
 providing a body comprising an elongated gas-conveying tube, the body having a suction lumen extending along the body, wherein the suction lumen terminates in a suction opening, and wherein the suction lumen and suction opening are configured to permit suction to remove substances from the body cavity;    attaching a sealing cuff on the body adjacent to the suction opening, wherein the sealing cuff is configured to seal against the wall of a body cavity; and    securing a projection to the exterior of the body proximate to the suction opening, wherein the projection is configured to prevent occlusion of the suction opening.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the body comprises an endotracheal tube.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein securing the projection to the exterior of the body comprises the use of an adhesive to secure the projection to the body.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein securing the projection to the exterior of the body comprises mechanically coupling the projection to the body.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein securing the projection to the exterior of the body comprises securing a secondary cuff.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the sealing cuff comprises an inflatable sealing cuff.  
     
     
         30 . A method of operation for a medical tube comprising: 
 intubulating a body cavity with a medical tube comprising: 
 a body comprising an elongated gas-conveying tube;  
 a sealing cuff mounted on the body, wherein the sealing cuff is configured to seal against the wall of the body cavity;  
 a suction lumen extending along the body, wherein the suction lumen terminates in a suction opening adjacent the sealing cuff, and wherein the suction lumen and suction opening are configured to permit suction to remove substances from the body cavity; and  
 a projection on the exterior of the body, wherein the projection is located proximate to the suction opening, and wherein the projection is configured to prevent occlusion of the suction opening; and  
   suctioning fluid such that the cavity wall contacts the projection rather than occluding the suction opening.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein intubulating a body cavity with the medical tube comprises inflating the sealing cuff to provide seal against the wall of the body cavity.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the body comprises an endotracheal tube.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the projection comprises an elongated element, where in a longitudinal axis of the projection is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the body.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the projection comprises a ring, and wherein the ring extends at least partially around the circumference of the exterior of the body.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the projection comprises a secondary cuff  36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the suction opening is located between the sealing cuff and the secondary cuff.